Anglepoise
Anglepoise (complete name: Anglepoise tasklight 1933/34 ) is the name of a lamp that was designed by the English industrial designer George Carwardine (1887–1948). His basic idea was to design a flexible work lamp. The principle of the Anglepoise corresponds to the movements of a human arm: with the help of three springs that keep this fragile, static masterpiece in balance, it became the model for all spring-loaded lights.
history
Carwardine was a specialist in shock absorber systems and therefore had contacts in the automotive industry. He was able to win the family business Herbert Terry & Sons ( Redditch , UK), which was a manufacturer of springs and shock absorbers , as a producer for his idea . Several patents were filed until the first Anglepoise (model 1208) was launched in 1933 . For a long time it was hidden from the big market. Nevertheless, the system found imitators who further developed it under license. Over time, the Anglepoise gained the reputation of a stylish design icon; it was not infrequently part of the equipment for advertising or feature films. In 1993, Ray Terry - a descendant of the Terrys - invested a lot of money in the resurrection of the Anglepoise 1227, which was once designed for factories .
Until 2009, the Anglepoise was marketed by Tecta in a version designed for the European market. Since 2009 the company New Objects has been taking over sales. The original, consisting of 98 individual parts, is currently also available as an oversized floor lamp on castors.
The highest prices are now paid for well-preserved lights that have been left in their original condition. In 1992 , the Anglepoise won first place when 50 British industrial designers were asked about the most important lamp of all time.
particularities
The first version was characterized by a round plate base. The screen was more of a flare protection than a spotlight. The second version, model 1227, got a square base in a pyramid structure . The shape, which does justice to Art Déco , also had a practical background: a round shape is placed anywhere on your work surface, while a square shape likes to stick to the edge of the table. The reflector now assumed a hemispherical shape.
The typical bakelite head switch above the socket has been replaced by a cord switch in the newer retro lights. Like the prototype , model 1208, it also follows the motto: " It moves by a fingertip " (it obeys every pressure of the fingertips).
literature
- Wilhelm Gerster: Modern lighting systems for inside and outside. 1st edition, Compact Verlag, Munich, 1997, ISBN 3-8174-2395-0
